[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2007, Book I)]
[February 1, 2007]
[Pages 90-91]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Remarks at the National Prayer Breakfast
February 1, 2007

    Thank you all. Thank you very much. Now will you please join me in 
singing ``The Eyes of Texas.'' [Laughter]
    Good morning. Laura and I are honored to join 
you here at the 55th National Prayer Breakfast. You know, it's an 
amazing country, isn't it, when people from all walks of life gather to 
recognize our dependence on an Almighty God, and to ask Him for 
blessings in our life. I think a breakfast such as this speaks to the 
true strength of the United States of America.
    We come from many different faiths, yet we share this profound 
conviction: We believe that God listens to the voice of His children and 
pours His grace upon those who seek Him in prayer. I appreciate, Mr. 
Congressman, you and Jo Ann Davis for leading this prayer breakfast. And thanks for 
paying tribute to my wife.
    I appreciate the Speaker's presence, 
Congressman Hoyer's presence, Congressman 
Blunt's presence. I want to thank all the Members 
of the Senate and the House of Representatives who have joined us. I 
appreciate the fact that we've got Governors here, local officials, and 
State officials. I thank the members of my Cabinet for joining us. Don't 
linger, you've got a job to do. [Laughter] I thank the military 
officials who have joined us, distinguished dignitaries. Mr. Prime 
Minister, we are glad you're here. Thank you for 
joining us.
    I appreciate Dr. Collins. I want to 
thank Reverend Mucci and his wife 
Kathy. I appreciate Nicole Mullen. But most of all, thank you all.
    We are a nation of prayer; America prays. Each day, millions of our 
citizens bow their heads in silence and solitude, or they offer up 
prayers in fellowship with others. They pray for themselves; they pray 
for their families; they pray for their neighbors and their communities. 
In many congregations and homes across this great land, people also set 
a time--set aside time to pray for our Nation and those entrusted with 
authority, including our elected leaders.
    In my travels, I often see hand-printed signs and personal messages 
from citizens that carry words of prayer. Sometimes it's a single little 
girl holding up a placard that reads: ``Mr. President, be encouraged; 
you are prayed for.'' Sometimes it's a banner held by a group of young 
people that says, ``We are praying for you, Mr. President.'' I often 
hear similar words when I meet people on a ropeline. Isn't that 
interesting? You're working a ropeline and people come up and say, ``Mr. 
President, I am praying for you and your family.''
    The greatest gift a citizen of this country can give those of us 
entrusted with political office is to pray for us. And I thank those in 
our Nation who lift all of us up in prayer.
    Our troops must understand that every day--every day--millions of 
our citizens lift them up in prayer. We pray for their safety; we pray 
for their families they have left at home; we pray for those who have 
been wounded, for their comfort and recovery. We remember those who have 
been lost, and we pray that their loved ones feel the healing touch of 
the Almighty. During this time of war, we thank God that we are part of 
a nation that produces courageous men and women who volunteer to defend 
us.
    Many in our country know the power of prayer. Prayer changes hearts, 
prayer changes lives, and prayer makes us a more compassionate and 
giving people. When we pray, we surrender our will to the Almighty and 
open ourselves up to His priorities and His touch. His call to love our 
neighbors as we would like to be loved ourselves is something that we 
hear when we pray. And we answer that call by reaching out to feed

[[Page 91]]

the hungry and clothe the poor and aid the widow and the orphan. By 
helping our brothers and sisters in need, we find our own faith 
strengthened and we receive the grace to lead lives of dignity and 
purpose.
    We see this grace in the life of a young American named Shannon 
Hickey. Shannon was one of Laura's guests at the State of the Union. When Shannon was 
growing up, her favorite priest was Father Mychal Judge, a chaplain with 
the New York City Fire Department. Father Mychal helped Shannon and her 
family through Shannon's struggle with liver disease. On September the 
11th, 2001, Father Mychal lost his life in the World Trade Center. In 
memory of her friend, Shannon founded Mychal's Message, a nonprofit 
organization dedicated to sharing Father Mychal's loving spirit. Over 
the last 5 years, Mychal's Message has collected and distributed more 
than 100,000 needed items to the poor and the homeless. With each gift 
to the needy, Shannon encloses a card with Father Mychal's personal 
prayer. It reads: ``Lord, take me where you want me to go, let me meet 
who you want me to meet, tell me what you want me to say, and keep me 
out of your way.'' [Laughter]
    Father Mychal's humble prayer reminds us of an eternal truth: In the 
quiet of prayer, we leave behind our own cares, and we take up the cares 
of the Almighty. And in answering His call to service, we find that, in 
the words of Isaiah: ``We will gain new strength. We will run and not 
get tired. We will walk and not become weary.''
    And so I thank you for joining us on this day of prayer. I thank you 
for the tradition you continue here today. And I ask for God's blessings 
on the United States of America.

Note: The President spoke at 8:45 a.m. at the Hilton Washington Hotel. 
In his remarks, he referred to Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II of Missouri; 
Prime Minister Said Musa of Belize; Francis S. Collins, director, 
National Human Genome Research Institute; Rev. Dan Mucci, Jr., senior 
pastor, Abundant Life Church, Glen Burnie, MD, and his wife Kathy; and 
entertainer Nicole C. Mullen.